Patient Comments: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - Causes

Question:

I was abused when I was a baby by my mother and her boyfriend, putting cigarettes out on my arms. Sexual abuse by her boyfriend, my dad coming home drunk and getting abusive, living in an orphanage at an early age, and abusive men in my life were the cause of my posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Comment from: MrsSoSad, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: March 04

Gang rape on a bus is the cause of my PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). They kicked my head and stomach and when the big one punched me one tooth came out and two others are still loose. My shoulder still hurts from hanging onto the bus bar so they couldn't drag me off the bus. It was a few months ago.

My PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is from a car that hit me on my hip, knocked me down, ran over my legs and then reversed over them. I have plates, rod and screws in my hip, right and left legs. I can still hear the popping of the bones as they were being broken, the tires crunching against the ground, my screams, police and ambulance sirens, darkness and headlights. I had to leave my apartment and move in with my son. I have tried going for a short walk a few times but I am unable to cross a street alone, I do not like going out after dark because of the headlights, the tires on the ground makes my heart pump faster, and the jitters start in my stomach. When I do have to cross a street, I always have someone with me. When I am crossing and see a car I move back and turn away from the car. My body then starts to shiver. I am thankful that I was saved and did not die; and that I have such a beautiful family that is very understanding and help me.

Comment from: Martita, 65-74 Female (Patient)Published: April 25

The PTSD I suffer from occurred from the home environment I was subjected to for the first eighteen years of my life. There was alcoholism, brutal abuse, sadistic treatments from my father, and violence, each of which caused my brother and I to have to hide to keep from being caught up in it. This was not always possible so we were directly exposed to all of the above, as well as witnessing our mother experience the worst of it.

Our only daughter died from liver disease three months ago. I, her mother cannot function. I cannot even explain the hurt in my heart. I am in a fog as I try to go through the day. We were with her when she took her last breath. I have flashbacks of that night and watching my beloved daughter die. I cannot explain the pain I feel.

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